Recording apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is provided a recording apparatus including: a hopper which is swingably installed on which paper sheets are placed; a feeding roller which is rotatably installed in a downstream side of the hopper in a feeding direction and feeds the recording media; a media guide surface which is opposed to an outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller with a gap therebetween; a separating roller which is installed in a downstream side of the media guide surface in the feeding direction and separates the paper sheets through cooperation with the feeding roller, in which the shortest distance between the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface in the gap becomes long along with the rotation of the feeding roller during one rotation of the feeding roller.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

2. Related Art

An ink jet printer as an example of a recording apparatus includes a mechanism feeding a plurality of paper sheets which are placed in a stacked state to a recording unit by separating the paper sheets one by one. For example, JP-A-2005-112496 includes a hopper 80 which is swung with a rocking shaft 81 of FIG. 8A as a fulcrum in swinging directions D10 and D11; a feeding roller 83 that has an outer peripheral surface 84 where a distance C from a rotational axis J10 is equal over the outer periphery, rotates in a rotation direction D12, and has an approximately D shape from a side view; and a retard roller 85 which is driven in contact with the feeding roller 83. In addition, a guide surface 82 which is capable of being opposed to the outer peripheral surface 84 of the feeding roller 83 is formed between the hopper 80 and a nip position N of the feeding roller 83 and the retard roller 85, and a gap G is formed between the outer peripheral surface 84 and the guide surface 82.

When the hopper 80 is swung in the swinging direction D11, a plurality of paper sheets P11 on an upper part among the plurality of paper sheets P10 which are placed in the stacked state enter the gap G. The plurality of paper sheets P11 which enter the gap G stops further on an upstream side in a feeding direction E than the nip position N between the feeding roller 83 and the retard roller 85. When the feeding roller 83 of FIG. 8A further rotates in the rotation direction D12, a paper sheet P12 on an uppermost portion is separated by the feeding roller 83 and the retard roller 85 by being fed in the feeding direction E as shown in FIG. 8B.

However, there are cases where the position of the rotational axis J10 changes along with the rotation of the feeding roller 83 and the distance C between the outer peripheral surface 84 and the rotational axis J10 is not equally formed over the outer periphery depending on the dimensional accuracy of components processing. Therefore, when the feeding roller 83 of FIG. 8A is rotated in the rotation direction D12, a distance L11 of the gap G in the rotational position of the feeding roller 83 of FIG. 8B becomes shorter compared to a distance L10 of the gap G in the rotational position of the feeding roller 83 of FIG. 8A. That is, the distance between the outer peripheral surface 84 and the guide surface 82 in the gap G becomes short along with the rotation of the feeding roller 83.

Accordingly, a force pressing the plurality of paper sheets P11 which enter the gap G increases due to the outer peripheral surface 84 and the guide surface 82 along with the rotation of the feeding roller 83. As a result, there are problems that the plurality of paper sheets which enter the gap G, among the plurality of paper sheets P11 are transported further on a downstream side in the feeding direction E than the nip position N between the feeding roller 83 and the retard roller 85 to be multi-fed; and the driving rotation of the feeding roller 83 stops.

SUMMARY

The invention can be realized in the following forms or application examples.

APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1

According to this application example, there is provided a recording apparatus including: a hopper which is swingably installed on which recording media are placed; a feeding roller which is rotatably installed in a downstream side of the hopper in a feeding direction and feeds the recording media; a medium guide surface which is opposed to an outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller with a gap therebetween; a separating roller which is installed in a downstream side of the media guide surface in the feeding direction and separates the recording media through cooperation with the feeding roller; and a recording unit which makes a record on the recording media separated by the feeding roller and the separating roller, in which the shortest distance between the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface in the gap becomes long along with the rotation of the feeding roller during one rotation of the feeding roller.

In this case, the shortest distance between the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface in the gap becomes long along with the rotation of the feeding roller during one rotation of the feeding roller. Accordingly, in the gap where the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface are opposed to each other, it is possible to suppress the distance of the gap where the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface that are opposed to each other from becoming short along with the rotation of the feeding roller depending on the dimensional accuracy of components processing. For this reason, increase of a force pressing the paper sheets, which enter the gap, caused by the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface along with the rotation of the feeding roller can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the recording media from being multi-fed by the feeding roller and the separating roller; the stoppage of the driving rotation of the feeding roller; and the stoppage of the printer.

APPLICATION EXAMPLE 2

In the recording apparatus, the feeding roller may be configured to have a circular arc portion and a linear portion which make an approximately D shape from a side view, the outer peripheral surface viewed from a rotational axis of the feeding roller in an axis direction forms the circular arc portion, and the rotational axis is installed to be deviated from the center of the circular arc portion toward an opposite side to a starting end in the outer peripheral surface viewed from the feeding roller in the rotation direction.

In this case, in the gap where the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface are opposed to each other, it is possible to suppress the distance of the gap where the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface are opposed to each other from becoming short along with the rotation of the feeding roller depending on the dimensional accuracy of components processing. For this reason, increase of a force pressing the paper sheets, which enter the gap, caused by the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface along with the rotation of the feeding roller can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the recording media from being multi-fed by the feeding roller and the separating roller; the stoppage of the driving rotation of the feeding roller; and the stoppage of the printer.

APPLICATION EXAMPLE 3

In the recording apparatus, the outer peripheral surface viewed from the rotational axis of the feeding roller in the axis direction may include a first outer peripheral surface that forms a portion of the circular arc portion; and a second outer peripheral surface that is continuous from the first outer peripheral surface and has a distance between the center of the circular arc portion and the second outer peripheral surface which becomes shorter as the second outer peripheral surface is located further on a finishing end side.

In this case, it is possible to suppress the distance of the space where the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface that are opposed to each other from becoming short. In addition, the distance of rotating the recording medium while being pinched by the feeding roller and the separating roller becomes long. For this reason, increase of a force pressing the paper sheets, which enter the gap, caused by the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface along with the rotation of the feeding roller can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the recording media from being multi-fed by the feeding roller and the separating roller; the stoppage of the driving rotation of the feeding roller; and the stoppage of the print.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a printer.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a printer.

FIG. 3A is a view illustrating a portion where paper sheets are separated and FIG. 3B is a view illustrating a portion where an outer peripheral surface of a feeding roller and a media guide surface are opposed to each other.

FIG. 4A is a view illustrating a portion where paper sheets are separated and FIG. 4B is a view illustrating a portion where an outer peripheral surface of a feeding roller and a media guide surface are opposed to each other.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating an outer peripheral surface of a feeding roller and a media guide surface that opposes the outer peripheral surface.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an outer peripheral surface of a feeding roller and a media guide surface that opposes the outer peripheral surface.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a feeding roller when viewed in a main scanning direction.

FIG. 8A is a view illustrating a separation mechanism of paper sheets which is provided in a recording apparatus in the related art and FIG. 8B is a view illustrating a gap formed between a feeding roller and a media guide surface in the separation mechanism of the paper sheets in the related art.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a printer 1 as an example of a recording apparatus. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a printer 1 viewed from a main scanning direction Y. In a back side (upstream side in a sub scanning direction X) of the printer 1, there are a hopper 3 and a paper support 7 on which paper sheets (not shown) are placed as recording media. A paper end portion regulation unit 5 which regulates a position of an end portion of the paper sheets is provided in the hopper 3 in a state of being slid in the main scanning direction Y.

In a downstream side of a feeding direction (sub scanning direction X) of the hopper 3, a feeding roller 2 is provide in a center portion in the main scanning direction Y. A separating roller 14 provided below the feeding roller 2 of FIG. 2 in a vertical direction Z is biased to the feeding roller 2 side by a spring member, which is not shown, and cooperates with the feeding roller 2 to separate multi-fed paper sheets.

The separating roller 14 is rotated along with the feeding roller 2 when pinching a paper sheet in a nip position between the separating roller 14 and the feeding roller 2. However, the separating roller 14 is not rotated along with the feeding roller 2 when two or more paper sheets are multi-fed. For this reason, a paper sheet on an uppermost portion which comes into contact with the feeding roller 2 is fed to a downstream side in the feeding direction, conversely paper sheets other than the paper sheet on the uppermost portion which comes into contact with the feeding roller 2 are not fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction. Accordingly, it is possible to separate the multi-fed paper sheets.

A paper returning lever 8 is provided on both sides of the feeding roller 2 of FIG. 1 in the main scanning direction Y, and the paper sheets, which are not fed, other than the paper sheet on the uppermost portion that comes into contact with the feeding roller 2, are pushed back to the upstream side in the feeding direction by a turning operation of the paper returning lever 8.

A carriage 11 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction Y in a state of being fixed to an endless belt (not shown) which is rotatively driven by a carriage motor 9 is provided in the downstream side of the feeding roller 2 in the feeding direction. The carriage 11 loads an ink cartridge 10 for accommodating ink and a recording head 15 of FIG. 2 for ejecting the ink is provided in a lower end of the carriage 11 in the vertical direction Z.

A paper sheet which is fed by the feeding roller 2 and the separating roller 14 is transported in the sub scanning direction X along with a support 13 by a carrier driving roller 16 and a carrier driven roller 12 that is rotated along with the carrier driving roller 16 in a contacted manner.

Characters or images are recorded on the paper sheet which is transported in the sub scanning direction X by the ink discharged from the recording head 15 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction Y. The recorded paper sheet is discharged to the downstream side in the sub scanning direction X by a discharge driving roller 17 and a discharge driven roller 18 which is driven in contact with the discharge driving roller 17.

A recording unit 19 is configured to include the carriage 11, the recording head 15, the support 13, the carrier driving roller 16, and the carrier driven roller 12.

FIG. 3A is a view illustrating a portion where paper sheets P placed on a hopper 3 are separated when viewed in a main scanning direction Y. The hopper 3 is provided such that a rotational fulcrum (not shown) is installed in an upper left side of FIG. 3A and the hopper is swingable in directions of arrow D1 and D2 by a cam 6 of FIG. 1 which rotates on the same axis as the rotational axis J1 of the feeding roller 2.

The feeding roller 2 is an approximately D shaped roller from a side view which has a circular arc portion and a linear portion. The feeding roller 2 has a friction layer 21 where an outer peripheral surface 21 c which is capable of forming the nip portion in contact with the separating roller 14 is formed of rubber or the like; and a flat portion 21 d where a portion of a circle A which is indicated with a dashed line that extends from the outer peripheral surface 21 c is cut.

Central angle R1 is an angle which is opened by setting a center S1 of the circular arc as a center. The friction layer 21 is formed within the range of the central angle R1. Distances K1 from the center S1 of the circular arc to any points of the outer peripheral surface 21 c are equal over the range of the central angle R1. In this embodiment, the center angle R1 is 180°.

A media guide surface 30 which is disposed with a gap B is installed in a position opposing the outer peripheral surface 21 c. When the feeding roller 2 makes one rotation in a rotation direction D3, in the outer peripheral surface 21 c, a side first opposing the media guide surface 30 is a starting end 21 a and a side opposing the media guide surface 30 later than the starting end 21 a is a finishing end 21 b. FIG. 3A is a view illustrating an initial state of rotation when the starting end 21 a in the outer peripheral surface 21 c of the friction layer 21 opposes the media guide surface 30.

When the hopper 3 swings in the direction of arrow D1, a lower end portion of the paper sheets P placed on the hopper 3 in a stacked state is connected to the media guide surface 30 and is pushed up toward an upper side in the vertical direction Z along with an upstream side guide surface 4 (refer to FIG. 1) which is formed in an upstream side in the feeding direction. For this reason, a part of a plurality of paper sheets P in the upper portion is separated from the paper sheets P placed on the hopper 3 to enter the gap B.

As described above, a paper sheet P is separated from the plurality of paper sheets P which enters the gap B through the cooperation of the feeding roller 2 and the separating roller 14 to be fed to the downstream side in the feeding direction along with a downstream side guide surface 31.

FIG. 4A is a view illustrating a terminal state of rotation when the finishing end 21 b in the outer peripheral surface 21 c of the friction layer 21 opposes the media guide surface 30. When the feeding roller 2 of FIG. 3A rotates in the rotation direction D3, as shown in FIG. 4A, the outer peripheral surface 21 c in the finishing end 21 b opposes the media guide surface 30. The hopper 3 is in a swung state in the direction of arrow D2.

FIG. 3B is an enlarged view in which a portion where the starting end 21 a opposes the media guide surface 30 in the outer peripheral surface 21 c in the initial state of rotation of FIG. 3A. FIG. 4B is an enlarged view in which a portion where the finishing end 21 b opposes the media guide surface 30 in the outer peripheral surface 21 c in the terminal state of rotation of FIG. 4A.

In this embodiment, the rotational axis J1 of the feeding roller 2 of FIG. 3A is deviated from the center S1 of the circular arc to an opposite side of the starting end 21 a by a distance H. Accordingly, the shortest distance L2 in the gap B between the outer peripheral surface 21 c and the media guide surface 30 in the terminal state of rotation of FIG. 4A is longer than the shortest distance L1 in the gap B between the outer peripheral surface 21 c and the media guide surface 30 in the initial state of rotation of FIG. 3A.

That is, by the time when the state of the feeding roller 2 becomes the terminal state of rotation of FIG. 4A by the rotation in the rotation direction D3 from the initial state of rotation of FIG. 3A, the shortest distance in the gap B between the outer peripheral surface 21 c and the media guide surface 30 becomes long along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2.

Hereinafter, the printer 1 described in this embodiment includes: the hopper 3 which is swingably installed on which the paper sheets P are placed; the feeding roller 2 which is rotatably installed in the downstream side of the hopper 3 in the feeding direction and feeds the paper sheets P to the downstream side of the hopper in the feeding direction; the media guide surface 30 which is opposed to the outer peripheral surface 21 c of the feeding roller 2 with the gap therebetween; the separating roller 14 which is installed in the downstream side of the media guide surface 30 in the feeding direction and separates the paper sheets P through the cooperation with the feeding roller 2; and the recording unit 19 which makes a record on the paper sheets P separated by the feeding roller 2 and the separating roller 14.

The outer peripheral surface 21 c viewed from the rotational axis J1 of the feeding roller 2 in the axis direction forms a circular arc and the rotational axis J1 is installed to be deviated from the center S1 of the circular arc toward the opposite side to the starting end 21 a that first opposes the media guide surface in the outer peripheral surface 21 c.

By such a configuration, the shortest distance between the outer peripheral surface 21 c of the feeding roller 2 and the media guide surface 30 in the gap B becomes long along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2 during one rotation of the feeding roller 2.

Accordingly, in the gap B where the outer peripheral surface 21 c of the feeding roller 2 and the media guide surface 30 are opposed to each other, it is possible to suppress the distance of the gap B where the outer peripheral surface 21 c of the feeding roller 2 and the media guide surface 30 are opposed to each other from becoming short along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2 in the rotation direction D3 depending on the dimensional accuracy of components processing. For this reason, the increase of the force pressing the paper sheets P, which enter the gap B, caused by the outer peripheral surface 21 c of the feeding roller 2 and the media guide surface 30 along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the recording media from being multi-fed by the feeding roller 2 and the separating roller 14; the stoppage of the driving rotation of the feeding roller 2; and the stoppage of the printer.

Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 2, a feeding roller where an outer peripheral surface that is capable of coming in contact with a separating roller is formed in a range of 180° or greater of a central angle will be described. FIGS. 5A to 6 are views when viewed in a main scanning direction Y, and are views that illustrate the feeding roller 2 a and a media guide surface 30 in positions at each rotation angle.

The outer peripheral surface 22 d in a friction layer 22 of the feeding roller 2 a is configured to have a first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 which is formed in a range of a central angle R1; and a second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 which is continuous from the first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 and which is formed in a range of a central angle R2. A boundary position 22 b shows a boundary position between the first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 and the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2.

The first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 viewed from the rotational axis J2 in the axis direction forms a circular arc from a starting end 22 a to the boundary position 22 b. A distance K1 from a center S2 of the circular arc to any points of the first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 are equal over the range of the central angle R1. In this embodiment, the center angle R1 is 180°.

In the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 viewed from the rotational axis J2 in the axis direction, a distance K2 from the center S2 of the circular arc becomes shorter as the second outer peripheral surface is located further on a finishing end 22 c side that opposes the media guide surface later than the starting end 22 a during one rotation of the feeding roller 2 a.

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating an initial state of rotation when the starting end 22 a in the outer peripheral surface 22 d of the friction layer 22 opposes the media guide surface 30. FIG. 5B is a view illustrating a state when the boundary position 22 b in the outer peripheral surface 22 d of the friction layer 22 opposes the media guide surface 30.

The rotational axis J2 of FIG. 5A is installed to be rotatable and to be deviated from the center S2 of the circular arc to an opposite side of the starting end 22 a by a distance H (refer to FIG. 5B). Accordingly, the shortest distance L4 in the gap B between the outer peripheral surface 22 d and the media guide surface 30 when the boundary position 22 b of FIG. 5B opposes the media guide surface 30 is longer than the shortest distance L3 in the gap B between the first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 and the media guide surface 30 in the initial state of rotation of FIG. 5A.

That is, by the time when the feeding roller 2 a becomes the state that the boundary position 22 b of FIG. 5B opposes the media guide surface 30 by the rotation in a rotation direction D3 from the initial state of rotation of FIG. 5A, the distance in the gap B between the first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 and the media guide surface 30 becomes long along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2 a.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a terminal state of rotation when the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 of the friction layer 22 opposes the media guide surface 30 by further rotation of the feeding roller 2 a of FIG. 5B in the rotation direction D3. A circle F indicated with a dashed line is a portion to which the circular arc of the first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 is extended. If the outer peripheral surface is formed in the position of the circle F to which the circular arc of the first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 is extended, the rotational axis J2 is deviated from the center S2 of the circular arc to an opposite side of the starting end 22 a. Therefore, when the feeding roller is further rotated in the rotation direction D3 from the state where the boundary position 22 b opposes the media guide surface 30 as in FIG. 5B, the outer peripheral surface formed in the position of the circle F approaches the media guide surface 30.

That is, in the feeding roller where the outer peripheral surface is formed in the position of the circle F to which the circular arc of the first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 is extended, when the feeding roller is further rotated in the rotation direction D3 from the state where the boundary position 22 b opposes the media guide surface 30 as in FIG. 5B, the distance between the outer peripheral surface formed in the position of the circle F and the media guide surface 30 becomes short.

As described above, this embodiment includes the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 where the distance K2 (refer to FIG. 5A) from the center S2 of the circular arc becomes shorter as the second outer peripheral surface is located further on the finishing end 22 c side.

Accordingly, a distance L5 in the gap B between the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 and the media guide surface 30 in the terminal state of rotation of FIG. 6 becomes longer than the shortest distance L4 in the gap B between the outer peripheral surface 22 d and the media guide surface 30 when the boundary position 22 b opposes the media guide surface 30 as in FIG. 5B. That is, the shortest distance between the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 and the media guide surface 30 becomes long even when the state of the feeding roller 2 a changes from the state of FIG. 5B to the state of FIG. 6 by the further rotation in the rotation direction D3.

As described above, the outer peripheral surface 22 d viewed from the rotational axis J2 of the feeding roller 2 a in the axis direction in this embodiment is configured to have a first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 that forms the circular arc and the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 that is continuous from the first outer peripheral surface 22 d 1 and has the distance K2 from the center S2 of the circular arc which becomes shorter as the outer peripheral surface is located further on the finishing end 22 c side. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the distance of the gap where the outer peripheral surface 22 d of the feeding roller and the media guide surface are opposed to each other from becoming short after the feeding roller 2 a is rotated at certain times and the length of the outer peripheral surface 22 d in the rotation direction D3 from becoming long. Therefore, the distance of rotation while pinching the paper sheets P by the feeding roller 2 a and the separating roller 14 becomes long.

For this reason, even in the range in which the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 and the media guide surface 30 are opposed to each other by the rotation of the feeding roller 2 a, it is possible to suppress the distance of the gap B where the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 of the feeding roller 2 a and the media guide surface 30 are opposed to each other from becoming short along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2 a depending on the dimensional accuracy of components processing. For this reason, the increase of the force pressing the paper sheets P, which enter the gap B, caused by the second outer peripheral surface 22 d 2 of the feeding roller 2 a and the media guide surface 30 along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2 a can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the paper sheets from being multi-fed by the feeding roller 2 a and the separating roller 14; the stoppage of the driving rotation of the feeding roller 2 a; and the stoppage of the printer. Furthermore, the other configurations of the printer of this embodiment are the same as the configurations of the printer 1 described in Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, a feeding roller which is formed such that a distance between a rotational axis and an outer peripheral surface becomes short toward a finishing end from a starting end of the outer peripheral surface will be described. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the feeding roller 2 c viewed in a main scanning direction Y.

A circle H indicated with a dashed line is a circle having a radius W with a straight line that connects a starting end 23 a in the outer peripheral surface 23 c on which a friction layer 23 is formed and a rotational axis J3. A distance K3 between the outer peripheral surface 23 c and the rotational axis J3 becomes shorter as the outer peripheral surface is located on a finishing end 23 b that opposes the media guide surface later than the starting end 23 a during one rotation of the feeding roller 2 c.

Accordingly, the shortest distance L6 between the outer peripheral surface 23 c of the feeding roller 2 c and a media guide surface 30 in a gap B becomes long along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2 c during one rotation of the feeding roller 2 c.

By such a configuration, in the gap B where the outer peripheral surface 23 c of the feeding roller 2 c and the media guide surface 30 are opposed to each other, it is possible to suppress the distance of the gap B where the outer peripheral surface 23 c of the feeding roller 2 c and the media guide surface 30 are opposed to each other from becoming short along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2 c in a rotation direction D3 depending on the dimensional accuracy of components processing. For this reason, increase of a force pressing paper sheets P, which enter the gap B, caused by the outer peripheral surface 23 c of the feeding roller 2 c and the media guide surface 30 along with the rotation of the feeding roller 2 c can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the paper sheets P from being multi-fed by the feeding roller 2 c and the separating roller 14; the stoppage of the driving rotation of the feeding roller 2 c; and the stoppage of the printer.

The other configurations of the printer of this embodiment are the same as the configurations of the printer 1 described in Embodiment 1. In Embodiments 1 to 3, the printer provided with the recording head 15 that ejects the ink has been explained, but such configurations are also applicable to an electrophotographic-type recording apparatus provided with a photoreceptor.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-277755, filed Dec. 20, 2012 is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording apparatus comprising: a hopper which is swingably installed on which recording media are placed; a feeding roller which is rotatably installed in a downstream side of the hopper in a feeding direction and feeds the recording media; a media guide surface which is opposed to an outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller with a gap therebetween; a separating roller which is installed in a downstream side of the media guide surface in the feeding direction and separates the recording media through cooperation with the feeding roller; and a recording unit which make a record on the recording media separated by the feeding roller and the separating roller, wherein the shortest distance between the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller and the media guide surface in the gap becomes long along with the rotation of the feeding roller during one rotation of the feeding roller.
 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding roller is configured to have a circular arc portion and a linear portion which make an approximately D shape from a side view, wherein the outer peripheral surface viewed from a rotational axis of the feeding roller in an axis direction forms the circular arc portion, and wherein the rotational axis is installed to be deviated from the center of the circular arc portion toward an opposite side to a starting end of the circular arc portion in the outer peripheral surface viewed from the feeding roller in the rotation direction.
 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the outer peripheral surface viewed from the rotational axis of the feeding roller in the axis direction includes a first outer peripheral surface that forms a portion of the circular arc portion; and a second outer peripheral surface that is continuous from the first outer peripheral surface and has a distance between the center of the circular arc portion and the second outer peripheral surface which becomes shorter as the second outer peripheral surface is located further on a finishing end side that opposes the media guide surface later than the starting end. 